Gimp: Putting Images Together - Instructions

With the freeware tool Gimp you can combine several pictures and create a collage or panorama pictures with a smooth transition. We explain how to do it.

Combine pictures in Gimp as a collage - in ten steps

1. Open Gimp and first create a large background image: "File"> "New".
2. Then open the first image via "File"> "Open" and copy it via the "Edit"> "Copy" tab.
3. Transfer the copied image to your empty background with "Edit"> "Paste as"> "New Layer".
4. To be able to add the second image now, you usually have to enlarge the image area first. To do this, click on "Image"> "Canvas Size".
5. Here you can manually enter a new width and height or use the arrows to enlarge the canvas.
6. Make sure that the option "Do not change the layer size" is activated under "Layers" at the bottom of the window. Then click "Resize".
7. Now you have to open the second picture: "File"> "Open" and then via the tab "Edit"> "Copy".
8. Transfer this image with "Edit"> "Paste as"> "New Layer".
9. With the "Move" tool (shortcut: pressed [M]) you can now arrange the individual images as you wish and use the "Crop" tool to remove the unnecessary background.
10. Now you only have to save the merged images as a new image via "File"> "Save as".

Merge images with image transitions

If you want to merge two pictures with a smooth transition, proceed as follows:

1. Here too, first create an empty picture with "File"> New, then open the two pictures that are to be merged.
2. Now click on the "Rectangular selection" tool (first symbol) in the toolbox and select "Hide edges" with a radius of 100.
3. Now move the mouse button over the area of ​​the image that you want to copy. If it is the left half (of the new picture), you must leave a large distance to the right edge; if it is the right part of the picture, leave a lot of space on the left (see picture). This area becomes transparent and enables smooth image transition.
4. Use the shortcut [Ctrl] + [C] to copy the image section and then click on "Edit"> "Paste as"> "New Layer" in the empty image
5. Now carry out steps 3 and 4 with the second image. Make sure that you keep the distance to the edge of the picture on the other side.
6. In the once empty picture you can then slide the two pictures or layers into each other and then click on "Merge picture" in the "Picture" tab.
7. You can still crop the combined image and optimize it using the "Colors" and "Filters" tabs.

Read also with which tricks you can retouch and make the picture shine.